<P><B>Waste Industries Reports Quarterly Numbers</B>

Waste Industries, Inc. reported financial results for third quarter ended September 30, 2000: For the quarter the company reported service revenue of $62.3 million, an 11.2% increase over the same period in 1999. EBITDA (net income plus taxes, interest (net of interest income), depreciation, amortization and loss on sale of collection operations) was $13.2 million, a 5.3% increase over the same period in 1999. Operating income for the quarter was $6.3 million, down 3.3% from the same period in 1999. Net income was $1.7 million, down 41.5% from the same period in 1999.

Lonnie C. Poole, Jr., Chairman and CEO of Waste Industries, Inc., stated, ``As reported on September 28th, higher fuel prices and higher direct labor costs had a negative impact on this quarters earnings. Also we have not yet achieved the anticipated bottom line benefits to offset the cost of hiring more division controllers and sales people, which in the long run, should result in getting higher prices and reduced costs for our services. We remain confident that this was a good decision and anticipate positive results to follow.''